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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. rush — hurry
  4. board — a committee
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. pit — a hole
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. lie — to recline
  9. fine — high quality
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. saw — the tool
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. board — to get on
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. pit — in a race
  22. saw — the tool
  23. fine — all right
  24. leaves — lets stay

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com